PG National alum Appel goes No. 1

Stanford righthanded pitcher Mark Appel was selected first overall in the 2013 MLB Draft by the Houston Astros. Appel, a native of Houston, participated at the 2008 Perfect Game National Showcase where he topped out at 92 mph.

Here's Appel's report from that event:

Mark Appel is a 2009 RHP/OF with a 6'4'', 185 lb. frame from San Ramon, CA who attends Monte Vista HS. Appel has a very good pitchers build and uses a 3/4 arm slot and touched 92 with his fastball. He can easily throw 90 and has good arm speed. His fastball also has good life. He compliments his fastball with a 78mph slider that works, 82 mph change and also threw a 85 mph cutter. He projects well and showed athleticsm by running a 6.94 sixty. He keeps improving each time we see him and will be interesting to follow over the next year. He is also an outstanding student.

Appel was one of the top prospects eligible for the 2012 draft, but opted to return to play for Stanford after he fell to the eighth overall pick (Pittsburgh Pirates). After going 10-2 with a 2.56 ERA as a junior, Appel followed that up with a 10-4, 2.12 season this year.

Overall, nearly half (35 of 73, 48 percent) of the players selected on Day 1 of the draft (rounds 1-2) had previously attended a Perfect Game National Showcase, 25 of which did so in 2012.

Sixty-one of the 73 players (84 percent) had previously attended a Perfect Game showcase or tournament event. There were also 25 Perfect Game All-Americans (29 percent) selected on Day 1.

To view the full list of Perfect Game All-Americans draft please visit this story.

The National Showcase has long kicked off the draft season for the following year. This year's event will be held June 13-17, again in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the Metrodome, former home of the Minnesota Twins. Similar to past years, the top 300 prospects from the 2014 graduating class will be in attendance, and many of those players will be represented on this year's Perfect Game All-American Classic rosters.